Hello
My Canon MV6i has been fine for 18 months but yesterday when I tried to play
a tape the LCD monitor alternated between a blue screen and a very pixelated
image of what was on tape.

Also when I tried to rewind it sounded ok but the display just flashed.When
I pressed play again
it was in the same place as it was before.

I tried different tapes but it's always the same.I tried phoning Canon but
they were useless.
Has anybody got any ideas?

Thanks a lot for any help.

In message , Hoodoo
writes
Hello
My Canon MV6i has been fine for 18 months but yesterday when I tried to play
a tape the LCD monitor alternated between a blue screen and a very pixelated
image of what was on tape.

Also when I tried to rewind it sounded ok but the display just flashed.When
I pressed play again
it was in the same place as it was before.

I tried different tapes but it's always the same.I tried phoning Canon but
they were useless.
Has anybody got any ideas?

Dirty heads?
Using cheap Panasonic tapes?
--
Tony Morgan
http://www.camcord.info

"Tony Morgan" wrote in message
...
In message , Hoodoo
writes
Hello
My Canon MV6i has been fine for 18 months but yesterday when I tried to
play
a tape the LCD monitor alternated between a blue screen and a very
pixelated
image of what was on tape.

Also when I tried to rewind it sounded ok but the display just
flashed.When
I pressed play again
it was in the same place as it was before.

I tried different tapes but it's always the same.I tried phoning Canon but
they were useless.
Has anybody got any ideas?

Dirty heads?
Using cheap Panasonic tapes?
--
Tony Morgan
http://www.camcord.info

Hi Tony

Thanks for the reply.I thought it might be dirty heads too but
why would dirty heads affect the MV6i's rewind ability?
By the way I use Sony tapes.

In message , Hoodoo
writes
Thanks for the reply.I thought it might be dirty heads too but why
would dirty heads affect the MV6i's rewind ability? By the way I use
Sony tapes.

Unfortunately, the grunge that can build up on the heads is also likely
to be on the drive capstans and idlers in the head transport mechanism.
For that reason, a little gentle work with a cotton bud can clear it up.

The nearest comparison I can make is the stickiness you get on your
mouse, where the grunge deposits not only on the ball, but on the
rollers.

My suggestion was only that - something that's worth trying before
jumping in and paying lotsa money for a workshop job.
--
Tony Morgan
http://www.camcord.info

"Tony Morgan" wrote in message
...
In message , Hoodoo
writes
Thanks for the reply.I thought it might be dirty heads too but why would
dirty heads affect the MV6i's rewind ability? By the way I use Sony tapes.

Unfortunately, the grunge that can build up on the heads is also likely to
be on the drive capstans and idlers in the head transport mechanism. For
that reason, a little gentle work with a cotton bud can clear it up.

The nearest comparison I can make is the stickiness you get on your mouse,
where the grunge deposits not only on the ball, but on the rollers.

My suggestion was only that - something that's worth trying before jumping
in and paying lotsa money for a workshop job.
--
Tony Morgan
http://www.camcord.info

Hi Tony
how do I get access to the drive capstans and idlers? do i need ispropyl
alcohol on the buds?
Thanks again for your help.

In message , Hoodoo
writes
Snipped...

how do I get access to the drive capstans and idlers? do i need
ispropyl
alcohol on the buds?
Thanks again for your help.

I've never had to so much as clean my heads, but I've helped a couple of
friends who've had problems. I'd first try a commercial head cleaner. If
you can get a small keychain torch to have a look with the tape
transport open you may see a brown build-up on the visible bits of the
transport mechanism (posts and the drum-head). If they're clean then
it's best left alone. Gentle wiping with a bud soaked in isopropyl
alcohol should remove any deposits. Another friend told me that he was
able to unattatch the plastic hinge by unscrewing the two screws on the
bottom, so that it could be swung clear, then by closing the metal side,
it left an open frame to get into the mechanism. These were all Sonys
BTW. I've had a look at my camcorder and have seen the two screws but
haven't done anything more.

Don't take this as a recommendation to start stripping your camcorder
down! Whenever I take things apart, I always seem to finish up with some
spare bits :-)

One thing I should have first mentioned, is to try spooling the tape end
to end (fast forward, then fast reverse). Then try using the tape to see
if the problem's still there.

Sorry I can't help further.
--
Tony Morgan
http://www.camcord.info

"Tony Morgan" wrote in message
...
In message , Hoodoo
writes
Snipped...

how do I get access to the drive capstans and idlers? do i need ispropyl
alcohol on the buds?
Thanks again for your help.

I've never had to so much as clean my heads, but I've helped a couple of
friends who've had problems. I'd first try a commercial head cleaner. If
you can get a small keychain torch to have a look with the tape transport
open you may see a brown build-up on the visible bits of the transport
mechanism (posts and the drum-head). If they're clean then it's best left
alone. Gentle wiping with a bud soaked in isopropyl alcohol should remove
any deposits. Another friend told me that he was able to unattatch the
plastic hinge by unscrewing the two screws on the bottom, so that it could
be swung clear, then by closing the metal side, it left an open frame to
get into the mechanism. These were all Sonys BTW. I've had a look at my
camcorder and have seen the two screws but haven't done anything more.

Don't take this as a recommendation to start stripping your camcorder
down! Whenever I take things apart, I always seem to finish up with some
spare bits :-)

One thing I should have first mentioned, is to try spooling the tape end
to end (fast forward, then fast reverse). Then try using the tape to see
if the problem's still there.

Sorry I can't help further.
--
Tony Morgan
http://www.camcord.info

Thanks again Tony.

One thing I should have first mentioned, is to try spooling the tape end
to end (fast forward, then fast reverse). Then try using the tape to see
if the problem's still there.

I'd try that but although the tape sounds like its rewinding, the display
just flashes, rather than showing the timecode as usual.
When I take the tape out, its in the same position as before I rewound it,
even though its been rewinding for a minute or so.

In message , Hoodoo
writes
I'd try that but although the tape sounds like its rewinding, the
display just flashes, rather than showing the timecode as usual. When I
take the tape out, its in the same position as before I rewound it,
even though its been rewinding for a minute or so.

Then I'm sorry, since no one seems to have offered a solution it sounds
like an expensive workshop job :-(

Time to save the pennies for a replacement camcorder?
--
Tony Morgan
http://www.camcord.info

"Hoodoo" wrote in message
o.uk...

"Tony Morgan" wrote in message
...
In message , Hoodoo
writes
Snipped...

how do I get access to the drive capstans and idlers? do i need ispropyl
alcohol on the buds?
Thanks again for your help.

I've never had to so much as clean my heads, but I've helped a couple of
friends who've had problems. I'd first try a commercial head cleaner. If
you can get a small keychain torch to have a look with the tape
transport
open you may see a brown build-up on the visible bits of the transport
mechanism (posts and the drum-head). If they're clean then it's best
left
alone. Gentle wiping with a bud soaked in isopropyl alcohol should
remove
any deposits. Another friend told me that he was able to unattatch the
plastic hinge by unscrewing the two screws on the bottom, so that it
could
be swung clear, then by closing the metal side, it left an open frame to
get into the mechanism. These were all Sonys BTW. I've had a look at my
camcorder and have seen the two screws but haven't done anything more.

Don't take this as a recommendation to start stripping your camcorder
down! Whenever I take things apart, I always seem to finish up with some
spare bits :-)

One thing I should have first mentioned, is to try spooling the tape end
to end (fast forward, then fast reverse). Then try using the tape to see
if the problem's still there.

Sorry I can't help further.
--
Tony Morgan
http://www.camcord.info

Thanks again Tony.

One thing I should have first mentioned, is to try spooling the tape end
to end (fast forward, then fast reverse). Then try using the tape to see
if the problem's still there.

I'd try that but although the tape sounds like its rewinding, the display
just flashes, rather than showing the timecode as usual.
When I take the tape out, its in the same position as before I rewound it,
even though its been rewinding for a minute or so.

Sounds like it does need a visit to a workshop. A friend of mine
recently used these:
http://www.digiservice.co.uk/
who offer a free online estimate service that might be worth trying.
HTH
--
Rob

In message , Rob Hemmings
writes
Sounds like it does need a visit to a workshop. A friend of mine
recently used these:
http://www.digiservice.co.uk/
who offer a free online estimate service that might be worth trying.
HTH

Anything's better than the manufacturer's repair centre. It must be
about eight years ago when I sent a Mavica to the Sony Repair Centre.
They wanted £50 up front before they'd even look at it. Then I asked
them to send it back and they wanted £30 for "shipping and handling". A
lot of money eight years ago.
--
Tony Morgan
http://www.camcord.info